Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is doubtful for Wednesday’s Game 2 matchup with the Orlando Magic because of a bone bruise in his right wrist.
Tatum sustained the injury during Sunday’s Game 1 win over the Orlando Magic. He took a flagrant foul and landed on his right wrist during the game, but was able to finish the game and told reporters afterward that X-rays came back negative.
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“It’s all right,” Tatum said when asked about his wrist. “I just fell on it, landed on it.”
Tatum’s injury scare took place with 8:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. He attacked the basket for a dunk attempt and landed on the baseline after a foul by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in which the Magic guard grabbed Tatum’s right elbow and pulled while Tatum was in midair.
Tatum landed hard on the court and clutched his right wrist. He remained down on the ground for several moments after the foul. Officials reviewed the foul on Caldwell-Pope and upgraded it from a personal to a Flagrant 1.
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During the review, Tatum got up and walked to the bench, where he received treatment from a member of the Celtics’ medical staff. When play resumed, he went to the foul line to shoot his free throws.
An 81% free throw shooter for the season, Tatum missed them both. But he continued to play down the stretch and hit his first 3-pointer of the game moments later, easing concern that he was dealing with a significant injury.
But he continued to flex his wrist on the bench once he was taken out of the game in the final two minutes along with the rest of the Celtics starters, clearly still in discomfort.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that Tatum got an MRI that revealed the bone bruise in his right wrist, and that going forward, it’s a matter of pain tolerance and managing the injury going forward.
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Tatum scored 17 points on 8-of-22 shooting in Game 1, and is critical to the Celtics’ chances of repeating as NBA champions.
Game 2 of their first-round series is Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET.
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